Pentax K-3 Mark III: Viewfinder Focus Points

Hey there! In this video I demonstrate the available viewfinder autofocus area modes on both the back LCD and the appearance in the viewfinder.

With the 'Viewfinder Light' setting turned to Auto or On focus points are illuminated when the subject comes into focus or when the focus point is changed.
Auto mode (used in this video) only illuminates focus point changes that are located in darker areas while On mode will display the illumination regardless of ambient lighting.
Also, press the AF Mode button on the side of the camera at any time to light up the selectable focus points in your current focus area mode.

There are 8 focus area modes and only two modes do not support the illuminated autofocus points: Spot mode (where it's quite obvious where the focus point is supposed to appear - only the centre) and full Auto mode (when you are not asking for any specific autofocus point anyway).

Although not all modes support the illuminated focus points, in the majority of the autofocus modes, including the ones used most often, are illuminated and the area of focus is easily discerned.

At first, I considered that full Auto should also display the illuminated points so that I'd know if it was focusing on what I'd want it to be focusing on. But then I considered: if I want to focus on something specific, then I am in the wrong mode. I should be choosing a focus area mode to properly select my chosen focus point and not using full Auto area mode. In full Auto you're surrendering that decision to the camera. It's sorta like choosing Green/Auto exposure settings and then being upset you can't manipulate the shutter speed. Now I consider that the majority of focus area modes are illuminated to show me where it's focusing and the ones where it's not illuminated are not really needed to be illuminated anyway.

I know that this display is different that the previous Pentax cameras like my K-70 and my K-5 where the focus point is maintained illuminated, but on the K-3 III is just a different method: the point is illuminated when you select the position you want to focus. Once at the position, you are trusting the camera to choose the focus point. If you want something more specific then simply refine the focus area mode to a smaller area selection for focusing on your specific target.

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Stephen Foster
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